Obituary for Gary Richard Heckathorn

Gary Richard Heckathorn was born in Seattle, Washington on July 19, 1945 to Ed and Helen Heckathorn. He joined older brother Michael. The family welcomed Janet  in 1950, and Susan in 1952. He passed away on April 11, 2026

Family moved to Hamilton, Montana in the early 50's, where Ed, Michael, and Gary worked on a dairy farm. Michael took care of many chickens while Gary took care of the goats. They sold the goat milk to the local dairy.

Sister Patti joined the family in Montana in 1955. Family moved back to Seatle where Gary attended Gatewood Elementary School, Denny Junior High School, and graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1963.  He joined the Navy in October of 1963. When finished with his training he was stationed in Naples, Italy. His official job was storekeeper to a civilian firm that was repairing airplanes from Viet Nam. Unofficially he played American football against other military teams all over Europe.  It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. While in Italy he met and married Maria Vuolo, and they had 2 children. Patricia  was born in Nov. 1965, and Gary Junior was born in August 1967. They moved to Seattle after his discharge. He worked mostly as a longshoreman.  They divorced in 1971.

He reconnected with Marva when he attended her brother's wedding. They had gone to high school together.  Gary was Marva's boyfriend's best friend. Marva was married and had 2 children Timothy Roberts and Stephanie Roberts. She divorced in 1972 and they started dating. They were married in February 1974. He worked many jobs until he was hired by Boeing in1976. They welcomed Elric Heckathorn in December, 1975. He was a storekeeper at Boeing until he retired in 2005.

They moved to Newport, Wa. In 2006 and lived there until November of 2023 when he lost his foot to an infection due to diabetes. At that time they moved to Spokane, Wa. to be closer to doctor's.

Gary was an avid photographer, with over 400,000 pictures on his computer.  He loved taking candid pictures as well as posed pictures. He also loved fishing, hunting, bowling, and golf. Most of which he gave up after his heart attack and stroke in 2017. He started getting care at the VA after his amputation and the recreational therapist got him back into bowling. He was a real inspiration to everyone at Lilac Lanes and started bowling league from his wheelchair.   He always said he did everything he wanted in bowling and golf. He has a hole in one at PLU golf course in Tacoma, and a 300 game at Deer Park Lanes. He was preceded in death by his mother Helen, brother Mike, daughter Patricia, uncles and aunts. He is survived by his wife Marva (of 52 years), Son Gary Jr. (LakeBay, Wa), stepson Timothy Roberts (Spokane, Wa), step daughter Stephanie Wasserman (Vancouver, BC), and son Elric (Eagle River, Alaska). Grandsons: Jeremy Pool, Michael Pool, Hunter Heckathorn, Geoffery Roberts, Joshua Roberts, Walter Wasserman, Eban Hecckathorn, Ulric Heckathorn, Elden Heckathorn and Granddaughter AJ Wasserman. Four great  grandkids: Felix Roberts, McKenzie Roberts, Mali Roberts, and Joanna Roberts.

He will be interred at the VA cemetery on Thursday May 7th.  Celebration of life service will be at American Lutheran Church in Newport on May 1st. At 2 PM

If flowers are your choice to send, please call Floral Traditions (208)-448-2611 or Safeway (509) 447-2506

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